EVERY year along comes a biopic that looks precision-tooled to scoop an Oscar for its leading man – but doesn’t.

In 2012, it was J Edgar, which won precisely nothing for Leonardo DiCaprio. A year later Anthony Hopkins was snubbed for Hitchcock, while last year Bradley Cooper got zip for American Sniper.

Which leads us to Concussion, whose main star, Will Smith, has been overlooked ahead of this month’s ceremony.

The true story revolves around Dr Bennet Omalu who finds a high incidence of brain damage in American football players. What the forensic pathologist doesn’t realise is his findings put him in the crosshairs of the all-powerful NFL who foresee a string of lawsuits and controversy.

Like an Oscar love letter, there’s a star buried under make-up, a David-vs-Goliath story and even a big speech at the end. The effect, however, is just too calculated.